Conservation implications and future research on detectability

I found that snare detection rates from ranger patrols in the Serengeti Ecosystem are far from being adequate to achieve the primary goals of snare removal: reduction of animal mortality and disruption of poacher activities. Indeed, approximate calculations of the number of patrols needed to effectively cover the Serengeti ecosystem for desnaring demonstrates the futility of such a goal. However, current low detection rates likely increase the risk of animal poaching and may explain the widely spatial distribution of illegal activities observed in this ecosystem, with poachers avoiding the few higher detection areas and relocating to less-well patrolled areas. I found that snares were most likely to capture zebra, wildebeest, topi and impala, reflecting their relative abundance in the ecosystem (Grange et al., 2004; Mduma et al., 1999). The two areas with the highest snare detection, and with lowest overall levels of illegal activity have

substantially more resource invested in law enforcement, suggesting that training and motivating additional rangers across the ecosystem could reduce poaching in the ecosystem rather than simply relocating it: previous ecosystem level improvements in patrol effort have resulted in increased populations of target species (Hilborn et al., 2006). More research is needed to explore effect of other ranger multiplying activities on poaching deterrence as the current law enforcement effort is unlikely to provide positive long-term conservation impacts in reducing the mortality of wildlife due to snaring.

4.6. Acknowledgements

Field experiments and data collection were conducted with assistance from Neema Mwaja, Twalib Johnson and Hillary Matemu. I thank Mr Nuhu Daniel, Park Warden in Serengeti for helping with the logistics during the research period. Funding for this research fieldwork was provided by World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF-grant #SS22) and the British Ecological Society (grant # 5645-6689) and small funds from Cleveland Zoos Conservation Fund and the Columbus and Aquarium Zoo, I owe them many thanks.

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CHAPTER 5 ˗ Poaching continues to threaten large mammal